Printing means for sorting and routing system

ABSTRACT

A printing means of a type adapted to simultaneously print ordinary legible indicia and corresponding magnetic ink characters upon a label in which the activating for magnetic character operation is made by the presence of a label in a particular location upon a platen, whereby an electrical circuit is closed through a predetermined opening in said label.

United States Patent J ovis 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] PRINTING MEANS FORSORTING AND ROUTING SYSTEM Higonnet et al. ..l97/ 157 Bafour et a1...l97/l57 X 2,958,568 11/1960 Hagelbarger.... .....l97/l R X [72]lnventor: Arthur Jovis, 1501 Undercliff Ave., 2 9 2 339 1 1,19 0 W00 97R X Bronx, NY. 10453 3,356,200 12/1967 De George... .....197/127 R [22]Filed: Nov. 26, 1969 3,412,838 11/1968 .lovis ..197/1 R 21 AppL N 8 0114 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 696,475 1011965 ltaly ..l97/173 8'97/1 97/156 133 Primary Exammer-EmestT. Wnght, Jr. 581 Field of Search..197/1, 127, 154, 156, 157, Temk" 197/158, 159,173,174, 187 [57]ABSTRACT 55 Ref e Cited A printing means of a type adapted tosimultaneously print ordinary legible indicia and corresponding magneticink charac- UNITED STATES PATENTS ters upon a label in which theactivating for magnetic character operation is made by the presence of alabel in a BrOOkS R Pa icu ar loc tio upo a p ten he y an e ric i it1,517,843 12/1924 Lake ..197/157 is dosed through a predetermined p i gin said labeL 1,889,315 11/1932 Henderson... .197/159 X 2,788,879 4/1957Rand Q. ..197/1 R 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 2 9 I972SHEET 1 OF 2 DUUDDUUUUUU UUUUUDDUUUUUU LI UUUUUUDUUUDHU DUDUUUUDUUUBPATENTED F EH 2 9 I972 SHEET 2 [1F 2 PRINTING MEANS FOR SORTING ANDROUTING SYSTEM This invention relates generally to means and methods fordirecting an article to a destination by electronic sorting devices, andmore particularly to an improved printing means for preparing a label orenvelope to be affixed to said article. Reference is made to my priorU.S. Pat. No. 3,412,838 dated Nov. 26, 1968, and entitled Printing Meansfor Sorting and Routing System, the present invention relating to animproved construction thereover.

In my prior construction, means is provided for interconnecting the keyswhich cause both nonmagnetic ink and magnetic ink characters to besimultaneously printed on the label. This construction requires thepresence of additional keys as contrasted with a standard typewriterkeyboard, and also requires the mental step of determining when themagnetic ink character keys are to be used.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide animproved construction of the type disclosed in my above mentionedpatent, in which a quasistandard typewriter keyboard may be utilized.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved meansfor preparing a sorting and routing label to be afi'rxed to an article,in which the requirement of a mental step determining when magnetic inkcharacters are to be printed is eliminated.

Yet a further object of the invention lies in the provision of animproved construction of the class disclosed in which the activation ofmagnetic ink characters is accomplished automatically by the presence ofa label in predetermined position upon a supporting platen, whereby anelectrical circuit is closed resulting in the activation of saidmagnetic ink characters.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, willmore fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and bepointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typewriter or a billing machine constructedin accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing means for activating a magnetic inkribbon during certain phases of operation.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, is used in conjunction with a label 11 generallyresembling that disclosed in my abovementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,838.It differs from the device disclosed in this patent in the provision ofan electrically conductive platen 13 which cooperates with an opening 15in the label 11, to permit the passage of current through a brush 16 onthe end of a resilient finger 17 (see FIG. 2). Current flows through aconductor 18, a pilot lamp 19in series therewith, a source of electricalenergy 20, a solenoid 21, and to a connecting point 22 communicatingwith the platen 13.

The solenoid 21 is provided with an armature 23 connected to a ribbonsupporting means 24 for moving a segment 25 thereof into active positionas indicated by reference character 26 in FIG. 2. When the solenoid 21is deenergized, the ribbon 25 assumes the inactive position shown byreference character 27.

As seen in FIG. 2, the upper row of keys 28 include the usual linkage 29of the type disclosed in my above-mentioned prior patent, which impartmotion to a type-carrying bar 30, the upper end of which includes anupper set of characters 31 and a lower set of characters 32. Except forthe period in which the solenoid 21 is energized, only the upper set ofcharacters 31 are operative, and are positioned to function inconjunction with the conventional ink ribbon 33. The lower set ofcharacters 32 while positioned to strike the platen 13 place no indiciaupon the label 11. As the label 11 is typed, a position is reached inwhich the opening 15 lies beneath the brush 16, which falls therethroughto complete a circuit with the platen 13, resulting in the upwardmovement of the means 24 so that the ribbon 25 is positioned to registeran impression when struck by the lower set of characters 32. It will beobserved that the solenoid 21 remains energized during the printing ofthe entire line of scannable information, since the finger 17 is mountedon the carriage 12 carrying the platen l3, and moves along a horizontalaxis therewith.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated schematically one arrangementwhereby the ribbon 25 may be advanced only during the time in which itis in active position. First and second spools 35-36 are mounted on anddriven by shafts 38-39, respectively. Spools 40-41 are mountedconcentrically on shafts 38-39, but rotate independently of theseshafts. Shafts 38-39 are free to rotate in the support mechanism 24.Clutch wheels 43-42 are integrally mounted on spools 35-38 and 40-41,respectively, so that with the energizing of the solenoid 21, themagnetic ink ribbon 25 moves to position, this motion serving to engagethe clutch wheels 43-42 so that the advancement of the magnetic inkribbon takes place as the lower set of characters 32 transfers ink tothe label 1 1.

It will be observed that the activation of the lower set of characters32 by movement of the magnetic ink ribbon 25 into position opposite thesame is completely automatic, and determined by the presence of thelabel 11 at the line of scanable information. Thus, no additionalattention is required on the part of the operator for such activation,and the presence of the pilot lamp 19 is merely to assure the operatorthat the device 10 is in proper operation.

Although for purposes of this disclosure I have used the term label todesignate the planar article upon which irnpression is made, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that, where desired, envelopes,documents and other planar articles capable of magnetic recognition ofsuitable size may be substituted. In such case, an opening is providedwhich extends through the body of the envelope to permit the brush 16 tocomplete a circuit as in the case of a label of single thickness. v

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A writing machine comprising first means to print a line ofinformation in normal type upon a label, second means to printsimultaneously a line of corresponding information in magnetic ink type;said machine having an electrically conductive platen, a first normallyinked ribbon and a second ribbon carrying ink with magnetic particlestherein; said first and second means being mounted upon common type barsacuiated by a single set of keys; said first ribbon having a relativelyfixed position with respect to said type bar, said second ribbon havingelectrically operated third means shifting said second ribbon into andout of active position with respect to said second means; and anelectrically conductive finger selectively contacting said platen in theabsence of said label to complete a circuit to said third means, wherebysaid third means is activated to shift said second ribbon to operativeposition.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 in combination with a labelhaving a through opening therein in predetermined location, positioningof said label in position for the reception of magnetic ink charactersserving to align said opening with said electrically conductive finger,whereby said finger may communicate with said electrically conductiveplaten disposed therebeneath.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said third means including anelectrically operated solenoid.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said machine includingadvancement means for advancing said first ribbon along the principalaxis thereof, said third means including clutch means interconnectingsaid third means to said advancement means when in the active positionthereof.

1. A writing machine comprising first means to print a line ofinformation in normal type upon a label, second means to printsimultaneously a line of corresponding information in magnetic ink type;said machine having an electrically conductive platen, a first normallyinked ribbon and a second ribbon carrying ink with magnetic parTiclestherein; said first and second means being mounted upon common type barsactuated by a single set of keys; said first ribbon having a relativelyfixed position with respect to said type bar, said second ribbon havingelectrically operated third means shifting said second ribbon into andout of active position with respect to said second means; and anelectrically conductive finger selectively contacting said platen in theabsence of said label to complete a circuit to said third means, wherebysaid third means is activated to shift said second ribbon to operativeposition.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 in combination with alabel having a through opening therein in predetermined location,positioning of said label in position for the reception of magnetic inkcharacters serving to align said opening with said electricallyconductive finger, whereby said finger may communicate with saidelectrically conductive platen disposed therebeneath.
 3. Structure inaccordance with claim 1, said third means including an electricallyoperated solenoid.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said machineincluding advancement means for advancing said first ribbon along theprincipal axis thereof, said third means including clutch meansinterconnecting said third means to said advancement means when in theactive position thereof.